Hontiveros believes competition at loaded SMB will bring out best in Terrence

CEBU - There are doubts on the ability of Terrence Romeo to blend in at San Miguel, but a former teammate believes playing alongside the PBA's biggest stars in the league's most successful team will bring the best out of the flamboyant guard.

"It will just bring out the best in Terrence and the fans would appreciate kunganoangmaipapakita ni Terrence with this team," Dondon Hontiveros said.

Romeo and Hontiveros were teammates in the Gilas Pilipinas side that Tab Baldwin steered to a silver medal of the 2015 Fiba Asia Championship in Changsha, China.

The Cebuano great has no doubt a competitor and hard-worker like Romeo can only bring positive things to a Beermen side gunning for a fifth straight all-Filipino title in this 2019 PBA Philippine Cup.

"Ako, I'm excited for Terrence. He's really one of those guys who are willing to put in the work," Hontiveros said of Romeo, who was traded by TNT to SMB in exchange for David Semerad, Brian Heruela, and a future first-round draft pick.

"I guess with him being one of the younger guys then, nakita ko yungsipagniya at ina-absorb niyaang suggestions ng mga players. There's another side of him nanakita ko when I was with him in 2015 na he's doing his role to perfection."

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Hontiveros, whose old No. 7 jersey is set to be worn by Romeo at San Miguel, couldn't help but feel saddened by stories that came out putting the former FEU star in a bad light following his sudden departure from TNT.

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"It's just unfortunate and sad na 'yungmganababasanatin about him. At the same time, pressured sila. If it won't work out, may magsasabina it might be Terrence, pero if it works out, may magsasabina Terrence accepted his role," he said.

Still, Hontiveros is confident that Romeo will come out a better player after that experience, especially now that he's in a championship-winning team like San Miguel.

"Talagang gagaling pa siyakasieveryday, you're competing for the spot, fighting to show that you deserve to play the most minutes. Yun ang goal ko when I was there in San Miguel eh. Yes, I was a starter, pero as a player, yunanghinahanap mo, yung competition," he said.

"So for him, maybe this is the time that he needs to really show namarami pa siyangpwedengmagawa. To be part of that loaded team nanagawanila mag-coexist naangdaminilang stars, makikitanatinkungpaanomagre-respond si Terrence.